Palm Bay officials have reactivated the city's Flock surveillance cameras after a permitting review by the Brevard County government, according to city manager Greg Seward. The cameras, which use AI-powered license plate recognition technology, were temporarily shut down in December 2023 amid questions about compliance with state privacy laws. The city council approved the reactivation in a 5-2 vote last week, with supporters arguing the system helps track stolen vehicles and reduce crime. Opponents, however, say the cameras collect too much data on residents and visitors.
The Flock system was installed in 2022 as part of a $1.2 million contract with the vendor, which also provides similar technology to cities like Cocoa and Melbourne. The cameras are located on city-owned infrastructure, including traffic lights and street poles, and transmit data to a private server in Virginia. City officials say the system is fully compliant with Florida's Public Records Act and that all data is deleted after 30 days.
Residents have raised concerns about the cameras' potential to track individuals' movements and store sensitive information. Sarah Mitchell, a Palm Bay resident who attended a public hearing last month, said she feels the system is a 'privacy nightmare.' 'I don't want my daily commute to be monitored,' she told the council. Others, like business owner Mark Thompson, support the cameras for their crime-deterrence benefits.
The city has not released specific crime statistics tied to the Flock system. Seward said the cameras are a 'tool for public safety' but acknowledged the need for transparency. The city plans to host another public forum in March to address remaining questions. Meanwhile, the cameras remain active, scanning traffic across the city's major roads.